S. J. Wadsworth.

Sam was born in Darwen on the 13th September 1896, he would go on to became one of the greatest footballers of his generation.
He began his football career with Darwen football club in 1912 aged 16 and made his debut for the club the following year as a left winger. realising his potential Blackburn Rovers moved in for him, and he signed for them in 1914. Rovers were at the time one of the countrys top clubs winning the football league championship in the 1911/12 season, In his first season with the Rovers they would again win the championship1913/14.
With the outbreak of World War 1, football was suspended, and after active service in France Sam returned to the Rovers in 1919. but after his horrendous experiences during the war he returned suffering from blackouts and the effects of the then much-misunderstood post traumatic syndrome, with this and a lack of form Rovers decided to release him and he joined Nelson later that year, it was whilst at Nelson that Sam's health improved along with his game.
At the beginning of the 1920 season fate stepped in - with Nelson having a shortage of defenders due to injury he was forced to play in the left back position, it was playing in this position that he made his name as a confident, composed defender who timed his tackles to perfection and always used the ball well. Herbert Chapman the famous manager of the 20's and 30's, was watching one of these games and later signed him on for Huddersfield Town in 1921.
It was at Huddersfield that Sam would become a member of one of the greatest teams that ever played the beautiful game. In the ten years (1920 to 1930) Huddersfield would contest four FA cup finals 1920/22/28/30, win three Football League Championships in succsession 1924/25/26, and finish runners up twice 1927/28. Sam becoming a regular of the team for some 8 years.
It was during the championship years that Sam won caps for England becoming Englands first choice left full back, he also represented the Football League many times.
On the 24th March 1928 in a semi-final against Sheffield United at Old Trafford Sam was Injured, it was this injury that would stop him playing in the 1928 FA cup final against his old club Blackburn Rovers, and eventually end his football career.
Although Sam played a couple of games the following season he was transfered to Burnley, in total he made 281 league and 31 FA cup appearances with the Town scoring 4 goals. Now aged 33 he made just 7 appearances for Burnley before being forced to retire through injury.
In 1931 he moved to Lytham Lancs for a short spell as player/manager, and later became the coach/manager of Eindhoven Holland (later PSV) taking the club to league and cup honours, He lived in Holland for the rest of his life and died in Eindhoven in 1961 aged 64.
In 1938 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Football League a poll was taken to find the best "team" from all the players from 1888 to 1938. Sam was included in this team along with two other members of the Great Huddersfield side of the 20's ( W.Smith and Clem Stephenson )


Acknowledgements for the history in this section are made to :  Darwen RBL -- who originally published this page in 2002